PODLASIE OPERA AND PHILHARMONIC HALL CHOIR IN BIAŁYSTOK

The Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Hall Choir in Białystok was founded in 2006 on the initiative of Violetta Bielecka and Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski – Managing and Artistic Director of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic. The Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir has performed in many Polish towns and abroad (Belgium, Belarus, France, Lithuania, Moldavia, Germany, Romania, Ukraine and Italy). The ensemble participates in numerous renowned Festivals: twice at The Warsaw Autumn International Festival of the Contemporary Music, Uaxactum by Giacinto Scelsi accompanies by the Symphonic Orchestra of the National Philharmonics, International Festival Laboratory of Contemporary Music in Warsaw, The International Festival Musica Sacra in Warsaw-Praga Cathedra’. In 2007 the ensemble inaugurated the “Gaude Mater” International Festival of Sacred Music in Częstochowa. In 2008 the artists inaugurated the Organ Conservatory in Legnica. During the last two artistic seasons performed the following music pieces: Gioacchio Rossini’s Stabat Mater, K. Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater and Harnasie, Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem, Wolfgang  Amadeus Mozart’s  C-dur Coronation Mass KV317, Great Mess c-moll KV 427,  Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony d-moll op.125, George Friedrich Handel’s Messiah, Krzysztof Penderecki’s VII Symphonies Seven Gates of Jerusalem. In January  2008, during the  koncert inaugurating the Krzysztof Penderecki Year, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the composer, the Choir performed Symphony No. 8 Songs of Transience and in November 2008 performed Seven Gates of Jerusalem under the composer’s baton, during Krzysztof Penderecki Festival. The music recording of this concert became a soundtrack of the movie and its world premiere took place on MIDEM 2009. Computer animation by Tomasz Bagiński – the Oscar Winner).
The Choir of The Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic can be proud of the recordings with the accompaniment of the Orchestra of The Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic, under the directory of Marcin Nałęcz- Niesiołowski. The ensemble participated in the radio recording of the oratory Feast of the Invitation of the Cross by Feliks Nowowiejski, accompanied by the Polish Radio Orchestra in Warsaw, under the direction of Andrzej Straszyński. The album called Sacred Music was the winner of Fryderyk 2008 Prize. The last success of the Ensemble is the nomination to Fryderyk 2009 Prize, in the category: phonographic debut of the year – for the album: Kurpie Songs by Górecki, Szymanowski, Moryto ( DUX 2008). In 2010, the 14th Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival, where, together with the National Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio in Katowice, the Ensemble performed, among others  Humboldt-Kantate by Mendelssohn Bartholdy.

VIOLETTA BIELECKA

A conductor and a director of the Choir of The Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic in Białystok. She’s a professor of musical arts in The Fryderyk Chopin Music University –  the Instrumental-Pedagogy Faculty in Białystok.  Since 2005 has been a pro-dean of the University. From 1999 to 2005 was a director of the Choir Conducting Institute. Currently, she's teaching vocal classes in Music Schools Company in Białystok. Since 1987 she has been directing the Female Choir of Music Schools Company in Białystok ‘Schola Cantorum Bialostociensis’, at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski at the Music Schools Company. In 1995 she was appointed to the post of the chairman of the Choir Music Admirers Association ‘Cantica Cantamus’ in Białystok; consequently, from 1998 till 2006 she was managing the Chamber Choir ‘Cantica Cantamus’. Additionally, she is an organizer of the International Lectures for the Polonia and Polish Youth ‘The Polish Choir of Peace’. For four years (1995-1999) she worked in F. Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. Between 1995-1997 she was also a vocal consultant for The Choir of The National Theatre – The National Opera in Warsaw. In 2000 she received academic title of extraordinary professor of music arts and in 2006 a title of an ordinary one. In January 2008 she was awarded with the Silver Medal: ‘Meritorious for Culture Gloria Artis’.